Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-29
PAT H.R!.Io' BOX.
A Dime Museum Man Refuses to
Yield to the President.
From the Chicago Ne,ps.

from the chicago AetpS.
Quite little story Is told of the adven-
lures of the President at the Baltimore
ball Tuesday night. He and Mrs. Cleve-
land were 10 be the guests OF Mr.. and
Mrs. JohnGill, who are recognized as the
leaders OF aristocratic society in Baltl-
more, and have many millions. At the
Academy OF Music, where the ball was
held, are only four boxes, two OF which
are on level with the stage and the
others with the gallery. These boxes were
sold at auction. Robert Garrett of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad purchasing
one and Pat harris the other. MIR.
GIL, 1t was understood by the managers
of the affair, was TO have the other lower
box, and to take care Of the Presidents
party, or at least the more important
members OF il, while Mr.. Garrett was 10
take the rest. To the surprise of every
one, however, Pat iarris, who was FORM
erly an attache Of circus, and now owns
dime museum, came in at the sale and
bid against Mr.. GIL for the other box.
Garrett got his box tor $3.50, but Pat Har-
ris run the bidding on the other up TO
Sl,lOO. GIL followed him to $1,000, but
fell out there, and 1t was knocked OF to
the museum man.
All sorts OF persuasion was used on
Harris to get MIN to surrender the box so
that it might be used for the entertain
ment of the President, but he said he had
bought it for his own use and would be
glad to entertain the President himself.
This, of course, would not do, and the ar
lstocracy OF Baltimore WAS hOrritied. The
perpleXing problem Of entertaining the
President was solved. however, in an
awkward way. Mrs. Gill, the President
OF the charity, for whose benefit the ball
was intended, whose guests
Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland were to
be, and who was to open the
ball with the President, while her hus-
band escorted Mrs. Cleveland, Tell sud
denly and conveniently ill, so that she
could not be present, and the duty of re-
celVing the Washington party tell upon
Mr.. Garrett, who had the other box. This
change OF arrangements made much con.
fusion. The Presidents party arrived at
the station in Baltimore at $50 O'Clock,
and was detained there till 9:45, so as to
reach the bail at 10 O'Clock precisely and
lead the grand march on the floor. This
part OF the programme was carried out to
the minute, but upon reaching the
Academy of Music Mr.. Garrett was no.
where to b. found, for he, having misun-
derstoOd his part, or having been misin-
formed, did not reach the place till 10 %,
under the supposition that the entree was
to be made at 1890.
Thus tor hall an hour the President and
Mrs. Cleveland were kept standing in the
foyer and the crowd, and the former, being
punctuality itself, and always impatient
at delay, came very near losing his tenn
per and getting his rheumatic legs tired.
But MIR. Garrett came al last, the process
sion was formed, and the rest OF the pro-
gramme was carried out TO the letter. AS
Mr.. CARROTS box would not contain but
six people, most of the Presidents party
haI 70 ct, nd ~, In Wit ~
guests, while Pat Harris, the museum
man, with a hotel CLERK for his guest,
smiled grimly from the other box on the
angry managers.